Midlands Innovation announces plans for technology transfer

Midlands Innovation, a group of eight universities and one of the UK’s most influential academic collaborations, has launched its plan for collaboration in technology transfer. The announcement was made at an event held at The Shard, London.

Midlands Innovation is a pioneering partnership which seeks to amplify the economic development of the Midlands through uniting universities and industry to drive cutting-edge research, innovation and skills development. Partners include the universities of Leicester, Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick. Collectively, their academics generate more new inventions and patents per unit of research income than any other leading groups of UK universities.

The event – which had speakers including Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Engine and Mark Payton, CEO of Mercia Technologies PLC – outlined that to make these inventions easily available to investors and businesses, the universities’ technology transfer units have come together to provide a single point of access to intellectual property assets. This makes it easy for investors to access opportunities and enhances support available for growing businesses.

Professor Iain Gillespie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise at the University of Leicester, said: “The University of Leicester is committed to the development of the Midlands Innovation partnership and its importance for the delivery of the Midlands Engine. This partnership of universities generates more new inventions and patents per unit of research income than any other groups of UK universities.

“As the recent winners of the THE Higher Education Awards for ‘bang for the buck’ for research, we will continue to provide our leadership in research productivity.

“We have an excellent track record in technology transfer, including developments such as EarthSense Systems, to spearhead innovations in air quality monitoring within our cities, and MIP diagnostics who generate a novel form of plastic antibodies that can be used in clinical testing. Midlands Innovation will also enable us to generate the high value industry and job opportunities that our students require and allow them to remain and develop their careers within our region.

“Our current research will continue to create opportunities that make an important contribution not only to the Midlands and UK economy but provide significant impact on our global society."

Midlands Innovation unites the power of university research with the unique strengths of Midlands industry to drive cutting-edge research, innovation and skills development and economic growth. Collectively partners are incubating more than 500 businesses and helping many more to innovate.

The partnership is working together to build up the innovation environment in the Midlands to the point that it will attract a large (£300m) ‘Patient’ investment fund, driving new growth businesses and new high value jobs in the UK economy. Just as for other innovation places in the UK, the Midlands needs ‘Patient’ investment capital to achieve its economic growth goals.